Shoe-fastener.



PATENTBD DEC. 15, 41903.

H, W.. CUSHINGsI SHOE FASTENER.^VV APPLIGATIOI FILED MAR. 14. 1903.

No mmm.

UNITED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

SHOE-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,927, dated December 15, 1903.

Applicationled March 14, 1903. SerialNo. 147,807. (No model.) v

T0 a/ZZ whom t Wtoty concern:

Be it known that I, HENRYWALDO CUSH- ING, acitizen of the United States, residing at Rockland, in the county of Plymouth and State of' Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe-fasteners; and itconsists of an improved device for lacing shoes.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the sameletters throughout the several views.

Figure l represents a perspective view of a shoe supplied with my improved fasteners. Fig. 2 is a detail, on a larger scale, showing a portion of the top of the shoe With one of the fasteners secured thereto. Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. i shows a modification in which the shank of the rivet which flange is bent over, as shown in Fig. 3.

The rivet is preferably hollow,as at o, which hollow portion opens into the inside of the shoe to prevent the collection of dust therein, as would take place if it opened on the outside, and also the smooth cap c presents a neater appearance. The edge of the top A is scalloped, as at a, and the loops b are placed over these scalloped portions and are preferably curved inward, as at b2. (See Fig. 2.)

This shape furnishes a better lead for the shoestring D and also makes the projecting edge of the loop nearly dush with the edge of the top of the shoe, so that the two edges may be vdrawn close together, presenting a neat appearance and also making the shoe substantially dust and Water tight. Moreover,

-thisconstruetion causes the shoestrings to lie ilush with the leather of the shoe and prevents the trousers or the skirt of the wearer from abrading the same and also protects the strings from the blacking-brush. Moreover, the loops may be held between vthe top and the lining, as shown in Fig. ll,wl1ere the loop is secured to the lining A and the end a of the top is passed over-the loop,being cut away for the purpose,and then secured on the inside of the shoe. These loops may extend down tothe bottom ot' the shoe-top or one or more pair of eyelets E may be supplied, as shown in Fig. ll. Preferably Y the ordinary hooks (shown at B in Fig. l) should be .used for the upper part of the shoe-top.

Practical use has demonstrated that a shoelacing rove in the manner herein described is much more 'easily tautened and much 'more easily eased off or slacked up than the ordinary lacing rove through eyelets, as is now mostcommonly the case. Moreover,the shoestring yields readily enoughto automatically adjust the tension uniformly on the instep, and thus comfortably iit the foot of the wearer.

By having the loops let into the edge of thev 1. The combination with a shoe having the g loops for the string secured over and projectpassing through said loops, substantially as ing from said indented portions, substandescribed. 1o tially as described. In testimony Whereoi:` I affix my signature 3. The combination with ashoe havingthe in presence of two Witnesses. 5 opposite edges ofits topindented or scalloped, HENRY WALDO CUSHING.

of a plurality of curved metal loops mounted Witnesses: over said indented portions,with rivets secur- AMOS A. PHELPs,

ing said loops to the shoe-top and a. string HENRY J. OUSHING. 

